Is Cry Pretty a good place to start with Carrie Underwood?

Yes, Cry Pretty is recommended as a starting point for new Carrie Underwood listeners. A blend of heartfelt ballads and anthemic pop-infused country, showcasing both vulnerability and resilience. Released on September 14, 2018, 'Cry Pretty' marked Carrie Underwood's return after a three-year hiatus following her album 'Storyteller'. This album signifies her artistic evolution into more personal and introspective themes, particularly addressing her experiences with motherhood and self-acceptance.

Who is Cry Pretty for?

Cry Pretty works well if you're into steady mid-tempo emotional journey, heartfelt reflections on love and sing-along anthems for gatherings.

How many songs are on Cry Pretty?

Cry Pretty has 13 tracks, running approximately 50 minutes.

Cry Pretty

Carrie Underwood · 2018

50 min · 13 tracks · country music

A blend of heartfelt ballads and anthemic pop-infused country, showcasing both vulnerability and resilience.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Cry Pretty Start here — The title track combines powerful vocals with a poignant message about embracing vulnerability, setting the emotional tone for the entire album.
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Love Wins — This uplifting anthem stands out for its hopeful message about love triumphing over adversity, showcasing Underwood's commitment to positivity and inclusivity.
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The Champion — Originally created for NBC's Super Bowl coverage, this track blends motivational themes with an energetic beat, reinforcing Underwood's crossover appeal beyond country music.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

60 /100

Treeline

Higher than 66% of albums we've rated

The album blends personal themes with polished production, showcasing Underwood's vocal strength and emotional range.

What we noticed

The first three tracks establish a mid-tempo pace, while the fourth track shifts to a slower ballad, creating a noticeable dynamic change.
Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies that build emotional intensity, particularly in the choruses.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady mid-tempo emotional journey
heartfelt reflections on love
sing-along anthems for gatherings
cathartic moments of vulnerability
for evening drives

Maybe skip if you

prefer instant gratification tracks
seek purely upbeat energy

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — Established Underwood's reputation with a historic debut atop the Billboard 200.
Themes: motherhood struggles· self-acceptance journey
Career context: Released on September 14, 2018, 'Cry Pretty' marked Carrie Underwood's return after a three-year hiatus following her album 'Storyteller'. This album signifies her artistic evolution into more personal and introspective themes, particularly addressing her experiences with motherhood and self-acceptance.
Stylistic neighbors: Miranda Lambert· Kacey Musgraves· Taylor Swift